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Westcon makes datacentre LEAP

Distributor opens first Cisco UCS demonstration centre

Westcon Group has unveiled its latest weapon in the fight to get Cisco
partners up to speed on the vendor’s unified computing systems (UCS) technology.

The distributor has opened its first UCS demonstration facility –
or
LEAP Centre – in Brussels, the first of several it plans to make available
to partners across the globe.
The Brussels facility allows VARs to gain experience of using the Cisco UCS kit
and hold customer demonstrations onsite and remotely.

Russell Blackburn, data­centre director at Westcon division Comstor, said the
large investment needed to launch the LEAP Centre was indicative of its support
for Cisco’s datacentre strategy.

“The Brussels facility will be aimed at our UK partners, but we will also be
opening additional centres in Denver, Singapore and Australia.”

No restrictions will be placed on the level of partners that can use the
facilities, added Blackburn. “It is a significant step by us to help a vendor
with a loyal following get its partners up to date on the direction the company
is moving in.”

Jim DeHaven, UK and Ireland UCS business lead at Cisco, said the centres
would also benefit partners with limited resources.

He said: “It is going to help partners go to market quicker because they will
not have to invest in building a similar facility for themselves.”

ANS Group
was one of the first UK Cisco partners to acquire the vendor’s UCS Authorised
Technology Provider (ATP) status.

Scott Fletcher, chairman of ANS Group, said: “To become an ATP partner, you
have to have your own UCS facilities. It suggests Cisco might be opening up UCS
to a wider range of smaller players.”